Rights Under Fire: Epstein's Secrets, Trump's Block, & Global Warnings

Global Human Rights System in Peril, Warns Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that the global system of human rights is in peril, with 72 percent of the world's population now living under autocracy, according to its annual World Report 2026 released Wednesday. The report highlighted that the United States, China, and Russia are led by leaders who share open disdain for norms, and wield considerable economic, military, and diplomatic power, according to Al Jazeera.

The report (PDF) warned of the challenges to human rights across the globe. The organization highlighted the plight of stateless people, noting that individuals without citizenship face endless bureaucratic barriers, impacting their ability to find work, access education, and simply exist within a system that does not officially recognize them, according to Al Jazeera. A documentary short, "Citizens of Nowhere," explores the experiences of stateless people in the United States, questioning what citizenship really means, according to Al Jazeera.

In other news, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from stripping temporary protected status from up to 350,000 Haitians, a status that allows them to legally live and work in the United States amid the turmoil in their homeland, according to The Guardian. Judge Ana Reyes issued a temporary stay that prevents Kristi Noem, the US homeland security secretary, from implementing her decision to remove the protected status, according to The Guardian.

Meanwhile, Netflix struggled to reassure skeptical lawmakers that its proposed $82 billion takeover of Warner Bros Discovery would benefit consumers, workers, and the broader entertainment industry, according to BBC Business. On Tuesday, members of the US Senate antitrust subcommittee, which includes both Democrats and Republicans, raised concerns about reduced competition, potential price rises, and the future of cinemas if the merger goes ahead, according to BBC Business. The deal is currently under review by the Department of Justice (DoJ), according to BBC Business.

Leaked audio from the Epstein files suggests former UK prime minister and Board of Peace member Tony Blair was known for earning large sums of money for advisory work after leaving office, according to Al Jazeera. Blairs office told Al Jazeera the figures mentioned in the audio were rubbish.